Audi's next-generation RS5 just broke cover at a private dealer event. Sources confirm it'll likely hit showrooms before June 2025.
That gives us just enough time to appreciate the current RS5 Sportback before it evolves into something considerably more electrified.
The Current Beast Before It Changes
The 2025 RS5 Sportback isn't subtle. Its twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 hammers out 444 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed automatic.
Zero to sixty? 3.7 seconds. Top speed? A governed 180 mph.
All that muscle moves a substantial 4,100-pound four-door that somehow still manages to slice through corners with surgical precision. The flared wheel arches aren't just for show – they accommodate the wider track that keeps this thing planted.
Fuel economy hovers around 18-21 mpg combined. Not great, not terrible, completely irrelevant to anyone actually buying one.
The Hybrid Future Cometh
The next-generation RS5 breaks with tradition. Dealer previews confirm what we suspected: Audi's dropping a plug-in hybrid system into the mix.
The twin-turbo V6 stays, but it's getting electric assistance. Output jumps from the current 444 hp to something reportedly approaching 600 hp.
Physics doesn't negotiate. More power with instant electric torque means quicker acceleration. The added battery weight means Audi engineers are recalibrating everything from the suspension geometry to power delivery.
What To Expect When It Lands
The new RS5 will arrive in sedan form first, with a wagon variant following later in 2025. American buyers shouldn't hold their breath for the long-roof version – it likely won't cross the Atlantic.
The current RS5's standout features aren't going anywhere:
- Nappa leather seats with honeycomb stitching remain standard equipment
- The Competition package still delivers 20-inch wheels, coilover suspension, and matte carbon trim
- Driver assistance tech carries over, including forward collision warning and adaptive cruise
Audi's standard 4-year/50,000-mile warranty package continues unchanged, still without complimentary maintenance.
The plug-in hybrid system represents Audi's commitment to electrification without abandoning the performance that defines the RS badge. The twin-turbo V6 provides the soundtrack while electric motors fill torque gaps.
It's not electric virtue signaling. It's using electrons to make a faster, more responsive machine.
